THE RELAY EXPERIENCE

From bake sales to car washes and lots of social media posts, you’ll have plenty of fun raising funds and
awareness well before your Relay For Life event.

2. Meet with Your Team

Find your team and let the event begin! Most teams set up a tent for their home base, so you’ll always have a
place to recharge, paint faces, or just grab some shade.

3. Opening Ceremony

Kick things off right with an opening ceremony welcoming all the Relay participants.
There may even be live music and special guests to help get you pumped for a day of remembrance and
celebration.

4. Survivor and Caregiver Laps

First the survivors take a celebratory lap, with the crowd cheering them on.
Then caregivers take their turn to get recognized for all they do to support their loved ones.

5. Time to Celebrate!

Once the event is in full swing, teammates take turns walking the track or path to symbolize the ongoing fight
against cancer.
Between laps, you can check out other teams’ tents for games and activities, and help support the cause by
purchasing raffle tickets or food.

6. Lighting the Luminaria

We light Luminaria to remember those we’ve lost, celebrate cancer survivors, and show everyone affected by
cancer
that we are the light in the darkness.

7. Closing Ceremony

Last, but certainly not least, you’ll participate in a closing ceremony to recognize all our event volunteers,
the community’s hard work, and the fact that our fight will keep going until the world is free from cancer!

WHY I RELAY

“It’s a gathering of people who are hurting and people who are there to help. And it makes it so nice that we have a Relay For Life everywhere.” Watch Deanna’s Story

Brandi

“We've always had a big family and have been there for each other, so I support an organization who's there for people 24/7. Raising money for them, I feel like I'm doing something for all of my family.” Watch Brandi’s Story

Jodi

“If we see sun coming through these clouds, it will be Emily with us. She'll be the one making us smile. There are going to be tears, but she'll be the reason we'll be enjoying the day.” Watch Jodi’s Story

DEDICATE A LUMINARIA

At Relay events, you’ll see Luminaria decorated with the names of loved ones, usually lining the track or path of
the walk.
After dark, each Luminaria is lit in honor or remembrance of a life touched by cancer, accompanied by a moment of
silence for those we’ve lost.

Dedicating a Luminaria is not the only way to express your unwavering support.
When you make a donation for a Luminaria, it helps the American Cancer Society continue to fight cancer on all
fronts.

OUR HISTORY

One person can make a difference. In May 1985, Dr. Gordon “Gordy” Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a
track in Tacoma, Washington, raising money to help the American Cancer Society with the nation’s biggest
health concern: cancer.

Gordy spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at the University of Puget Sound. Friends, family,
and patients watched and supported him as he walked and ran more than 83.6 miles and raised $27,000 through
pledges to help save lives from cancer. As he circled the track, he thought of how he could get others to take
part.
He envisioned having teams participate in a 24-hour fundraising event. The next year, 19 teams were part of the
first
Relay For Life event at the historical Stadium Bowl and raised $33,000.

After previously battling stomach cancer, Gordy passed away from heart failure on August 3, 2014 at the age of 71.
But his legacy lives on. He shaped an idea that started as one man walking and running a track and
helped turn it into a global fundraising phenomenon.

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Do you have a discount code? (optional)

Could help provide free access to 24-hour information and support via phone, email, and online chats for one person.

Could help provide free access to 24-hour information and support via phone, email, and online chats for two people.

Could help provide 8 rides to and from treatment for a breast cancer patient with our Road to Recovery® program.

Could offer a cancer patient and their caregiver one night of free lodging at a Hope Lodge® location.

Any donation amount helps save lives from breast cancer.

Cancer has touched all of us in some way.
And we want to stop this disease in its tracks.
We'll spend the next few weeks fundraising for the American Cancer Society.
Then, on the day of the event, we'll honor the lives lost to cancer, celebrate survivors, and support the caregivers who so selflessly help others.

Together, we'll be a part of making a difference in this important cause.